On Saturday morning, we announced that Aaron Hickey had joined The Bees from Bologna. But how well do you know our brand new fullback? Here are some things you need to know about the 20-year-old and his career so far.
Glasgow-born, Hickey started his football journey at Hearts before joining Celtic aged 12. He spent four years at Celtic Park before returning back to Tynecastle in 2018 in search of first-team football.
Coming from a family of Celtic fans, Hickey’s full debut came against his boyhood club at Parkhead; Kristoffer Ajer lining up against Hearts that day in May 2019.
Later that same month, Aaron became the youngest player to start a Scottish Cup final in the modern era when he was named in the XI against Celtic at Hampden Park. He was aged 16 and 349 days.
Aaron’s first senior goal was the winner in the Edinburgh derby; Hearts beating Hibernian 2-1 at Easter Road in September 2019.
Attracting interest from all over Europe, Hickey joined Serie A side Bologna in September 2020. He made his debut just four days later, in a 4–1 win against Parma, receiving a standing ovation when he was substituted with ten minutes to play.
Hickey was named on the Golden Boy shortlist at the end of the 20/21 season, alongside the likes of Eduardo Camavinga, Jude Bellingham, Bukayo Saka, Daniel Maldini, and Pedri.
When he thumped home a 20-yard strike in a 2-2 draw with Genoa in September, he became just the fourth Scot to score in Italy's top-flight after Graeme Souness, Joe Jordan, and Denis Law.
His tally of five goals last season was the best return by a Scottish player in Italy’s top-flight since Souness in 1984-85.
A Scotland Under-17 international, the 20-year-old made his senior debut in March against Poland. He’s since earned three more caps, playing the full 90 minutes of Scotland’s World Cup Play-Off against Ukraine last month.
Aaron has a Brentford connection already, his mum’s uncle, Hugh McLaughlin, made seven appearances for Brentford during the 1960s. Substitutes were introduced to the Football League in 1965 and Hugh made history by becoming our first-ever substitute, replacing Billy Cobb after 42 minutes of a 0-0 draw at home to Oldham in October 1965.